Project Summary

Client
Little Qualicum Holdings Ltd.

Services
Geotechnical Engineering

Market
Transportation, Facilities

Project Description

The subject property is located at 3095 Island Highway West in Qualicum Beach, BC and consists of 15 strata lots developed with residential buildings located adjacent to the foreshore area. A local, unpaved access road is located adjacent to the south side of these residential lots. There were two recent occasions in which small landslides from the sea bluff have affected the strata access road and individual properties. This raised concerns about property damage and life safety. A process to determine the risk management strategy to mitigate against property damage and address safety was required.

RAM’s Role

  • Investigations and review of relevant information on the geology of the sea cliffs, empirical methodologies and recent historical events documented;
  • A site assessment and investigations comprising shallow, manual test pits and examination of soil exposures;
  • Mapping of the hazard slopes and description of land forms;
  • Hazard identification and risk assessments; and
  • Provided recommendations to prevent or mitigate against the risks of slope hazards.

Project Highlights

  • The need to examine challenging terrain in terms of the steep slopes at the central area of the site, which is part of a sea bluff that extends for many kilometers north of the Little Qualicum River estuary.
  • The need to account for multiple uncertainties in the risk assessment and alignment to various guidelines.